WASHINGTON D.C. - Next week tens of thousands of American workers will no longer have the Trade Adjustment Assistance program available to them and would be denied vital retraining benefits because of Republican infighting in the U.S. House. The nearly 50-year-old Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which helps workers who have lost their jobs through trade and globalization, is in danger of being dramatically cut if House Republicans don’t act before Saturday. Following Republican Study Committee opposition, and other objections from conservative groups, Republican leadership on Tuesday pulled legislation from the House Floor that would have extended the program past its Saturday expiration.
The Andean Trade Preference Act is also set to expire Saturday without action this week on the House Floor.
“The 2009 reforms were created on a broadly bi-partisan basis - House and Senate - to expand and improve the program and now is not the time for Republicans to walk away from the displaced workers it serves," said Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin. “Republicans should act now to extend this vital program at a time when so many working families are still struggling under the weight of the deep economic recession."
“If Republicans’ inability to move a simple extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance is a preview of the Majority’s jobs agenda, then it is clear America’s unemployed are out of luck," said Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim McDermott. “In December the House passed - on a voice vote - an 18-month extension of TAA. It is inexplicable that the new Majority can’t do the same today."
Background on TAA
The Trade Expansion Act of 1962 created the TAA program to assist workers laid off as a result of international trade by helping them retrain and acquire skills needed to compete in the global environment. The Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2009, which was enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, made significant improvements to the TAA for Workers program. These improvements were supported by the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Finance Committee. Specifically, the legislation made service sector workers eligible for the program, expanded access for manufacturing workers, significantly increased training funding and promoted incumbent, part-time and longer-term training. Critically, it also increased the TAA for Workers Health Coverage Tax Credit subsidy to 80 percent and made several important changes to the existing credit. These changes are designed to minimize gaps in coverage and assure access to insurance policies that meet the health and medical needs of eligible individuals and their families. Additionally, the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Act of 2009 improved and made permanent the Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance wage insurance program. As a result of these changes, more than 170,000 additional trade-impacted workers were eligible for TAA for Workers benefits and training opportunities. Furthermore, the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2009 made important reforms to the TAA for Firms program and tripled its authorization, improved the TAA for Farmers program and created the TAA for Communities program.
More information about TAA can be found at: https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/ProgramOverview.cfm
